Mechanical Keyboard Switches Guide – Animated Gif

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Cherry MX Black Switches

Type: Linear Switch

Tactile: No

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: 60G (40G-80G Overall)

Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Cherry Black MX Switches are linear(non-tactile) switches, these are considered one of the best switch types for gaming. When gaming, having a tactile bump does absolutely nothing because you’re going to be bottoming out anyway. So these give you a very smooth feel The actuation and release points are at the exact same position as well. So games that require a lot of double tapping become easier than on any other key switch. However, most people don’t enjoy typing on them that much due in part, to their linear nature.

If you’re a person who tends to hit a wrong key every so often while gaming, these will be beneficial in that the high actuation force will help prevent many of those accidental presses.

Cherry MX Brown Switches

Type: Tactile Switch

Tactile: Yes

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: 45G (55G Peak Force)

Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Cherry MX Brown Switches are considered a middle ground between typing and ‘gaming’ switches. They have a light, tactile feel halfway through the key press that lets you know the switch has activated. The switch is considered a middle ground because the reset point & actuation point are close enough together that you can ‘float’ at that point, enabling you to double tap faster.

As a note: This switch actually has a peak force of 55G, it is 45G at the point of actuation. This is due to the design of the Cherry switch itself.

Cherry MX Blue Switches

Type: Tactile & Clicky Switch

Tactile: Yes, precise

Clicky: Yes

Actuation Force: 50G (60G Peak Force)

Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Cherry MX Blue switches are the best cherry switch for typing. The tactile bump can easily be felt, and the resistance is similar to your average keyboard. Although many people find them just fine for gaming, some don’t like the fact that the release point is above the actuation point. This can cause some trouble with double tapping. This is usually the case with someone who has experienced other mechanical switches before hand.

As a note: this switch actually has a peak force of 60G, it is 50G at the point of actuation. This is die to the design of the Cherry switch itself.

Cherry MX Clear Switches

Type: Tactile Switch

Tactile: Yes

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: 55G (65G Peak Force)

Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Cherry MX Clear Switches have often been called ‘stiffer browns’ though some users note that they have more of a tactile feel than browns do. This really can be a subjective topic, though this is another switch that could be considered ‘balanced.’ The force required is comparable to most rubber dome keyboards, with a nice tactile feedback to tell you the key has actuated. These switches are harder to find on keyboards.

As a note: This switch actually has a peak force of 65G, it is 55G at the point of actuation. This is due to the design of the Cherry Switch itself.

Cherry MX Red Switches

Type: Linear Switch

Tactile: No

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: 45G

Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Cherry MX Reds are another switch that can be considered a ‘gaming’ switch. It’s essentially a lighter version of the MX Black, requiring less force to actuate. Some people do not find this switch that good for typing or gaming because it is so light, but others rave for this fact. Light or stiff is always a matter of preference. This switch was hard to find; and was reported as EOL, but it is still in limited production with a higher than average MOQ leading to higher cost to board makers. Marketed with high demand, boards with this switch are becoming more common, but are generally more expensive as well.

Buckling Spring Switches

Type: Tactile & Clicky Switch

Tactile: Yes, very precise

Clicky: Yes, loud

Actuation Force: 65G – 70G

Key Travel: 2.3mm to actuation, 3.7mm to bottom

Buckling springs are pretty straightforward once you see them in action. After pushing the key down a certain distance the spring buckles under pressure, causing the hammer at the bottom to hit a membrane sheet and create an electrical contact. The buckling of the spring als provides tactile feedback and a satisfying click as it hits the shaft wall. This is the only mechanical switch where the tactile and audible feedback correspond to the exact moment the switch actuates.

Black Alps Switches

Type: Tactile Mechanical Switch

Tactile: Yes

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: Simple 60G, Complicated 70G

Key Travel: 3.5mm

Black Alps are one of the two most common Alps switch types Many people do not like these switches due to the fact that they are stiff, bottom out hard, and tend to develop friction in travel as they wear. Nonetheless, they are an improvement over most rubber dome keyboards.

There are two different types of Black Alps switch – an older type known as the ‘complicated’ due to the large number of parts in the switch, and a newer type known as the ‘simplified’, which was manufactured by Alps and some other companies. Complicated switches are common in many older keyboards, particularly the Dell AT101W, which is a very common mechanical keyboard from the 1990s.

The most well known Simplified Black switch is made by a company called Fukka, and was used in the ABS M1. The Fukka switch has less resistance, but many claim that it provides less solid tactility than the complicated switch.

White Alps Switches

Type: Clicky & Tactile Mechanical Switch

Tactile: Yes

Clicky: Yes

Actuation Force: 60G – 70G

Key Travel: 3.5 mm

While Alps are one of the most common Alps switch types. These are far more popular than the Black switches due to more pronounced tactility, and the lower force requirements of some versions. Like the Black Alps, White Alps are much easier to bottom out on compared with other mechanical keyswitch designs. As with the Black switch, there are Complicated and Simplified White switches. The two most popular Simplified White switches are the Fukka and the XM. The XM is almost universally considered to be a terrible switch, it was used on some older Filco Zero models, and some vintage keyboards. The Fukka switch is quite popular, and some people prefer them over the Complicated switch. It is used on some current production Alps keyboards such as the current production Filco Zeros, Matias keyboards and some others. Complicated White switches were used on some well made keyboards from the 90s such as the Northgate and Focus keyboards.

There are also a variety of White Alps-like switches of varying quality. Some, like the SMK Monterey, are considered very pleasant to type on.

Torpe Switches

Type: Tactile Capacitive Switch

Tactile: Yes

Clicky: No

Actuation Force: 30G, 35G, 45G, 55G depending on model

Key Travel: 4mm

Torpe Switches are somewhat of a hybrid switch, and are capacitive by nature. The Torpe mechanism uses a spring underneath a rubber dome, and the depression of the spring causes a change in capacitance between the underlying capacitor pads. With this change in capacitance; the switch activates. Torpe Switches are considered some of the finest switches available, as they offer a very enjoyable typing experience with a quieter experience compared to a Cherry MX, Alps, or Bucking Spring switch. The reason is the Torpe switches have the smoothest force gradient even compared to Linear switches like MX Reds and MX Blacks.